Bit annoyed at DH work related travel!

[Candlestellysofa]

Hi, DH’s employee have asked him to travel to another country for two weeks. It’s an 8 hour flight and they want him to go in October and be there for two weeks. They haven’t agreed a date as yet.

I’m just surprised that any employer thinks it’s ok to do this at such short notice, at a time when most people are struggling to make ends meet.
They’ll obviously pay for his flight and hotel but we have to cover all the other expenses and claim it back on expenses.

Not really sure why I’m posting, just venting!

Yeah, that's short notice

Do you have kids?

DH was recently away for two weeks and it was tough - back to school, etc

Which other expenses? It's unusual to have a job requiring two weeks of travel at short notice and for him not to have a company card he can charge everything to

@mackthepony yes we have children and I work full time. So I now have to change my working hours to ensure I can cover.

@carmenitapink he doesn’t travel often, this is a one off.

I don’t really see the issue here. Presumably if he’s in a senior enough job for international travel they assume he can pay expenses on a credit card and reclaim them. And presumably part of his role involves travel.

I travel a bit for wok and I don't think this is super short notice if its mid October. Does he have a company card and if not can he not get a cash advance?

So apart from his travel costs and hotel costs (which I assume includes breakfast and dinner), what other expenses is he likely to incur whilst working away that he wouldn't have paid whilst working in the UK?

My dp has to pay for his actual flights and claim them back which is a struggle sometimes. Fortunately he puts it on the credit card and gets his expenses almost immediately he submits them.

I don't see the problem op - surely his lunch and other stuff is at his own cost as it would be at home?

He needs a credit card. Stick everything on it and claim when he gets back, it’ll be paid off without coming from your pockets

Thanks for replies.
He doesn’t regularly travel. This is the first time in over ten years.

He also works from home so it feels like a big shift, mostly for me as I have to change my working hours to cover for children etc.

We have to pay expenses and claim back. That said there are ways to get an advance if needed.

I don't think this is short notice. My ExDP used to travel all over for extended periods of time at much less notice than this. If it's part of his job then I don't see the issue. And what other expenses will you need to find and claim back if flights and hotels are covered? Many companies make employees pay for flights etc and then reclaim so it could be worse!!

@MzHz thats what we’re thinking (CC).

Get a credit card and take advantage of the points you can get for expenses that he can claim back.

Hopefully the company pays back expenses quickly - it's usually 30 days max in most places, but often quicker.

October isn't that short notice for international travel tbh, but usually for senior people who travel often & would therefore have childcare in place that wasn't relying on them day to day.

Things like bubble childcare can provide as hoc childcare if that helps?

Just seen your update re wfh. I was about to say I think it's the shock of going from wfh to extended travel. It would be a shock to my system too even though I used to travel every month. I think many of us have grown accustomed to being at home mostly, even going into the office feels like a hassle!!

Agree with others, this isn't short notice to me though obviously an inconvenience to you

My DH has to be away regularly, often at fairly short notice, and it's bloody annoying, but we need the money sooo... both of us suck it up and crack on. We'd have to radically overhaul everything otherwise - it is what it is. Look for the positives - you get the bed to yourself, for a start!

I don't think it's that short notice, and would stick it all on a credit card, and hope I got the money back from work before the bill arrived.

I mean this in the nicest way but are you jealous OP? My DH used to work away a lot and I was insanely jealous of the time alone he got- not having to cook, clean, worry about pick up etc.

It's not short notice and pretty usual for me to claim back expenses. 8 hour flight- is he going to the US? FWIW my friend travels to the US a lot for work and is bored senseless most of the time she's there as they put them up in soulless conference centres!

It's work, it's not immediate & you won't be left out of pocket = it's not a big deal.

It's not last minute by work travel standards.

If it's going to be a genuine hardship for him to cover his expenses while away up front, he can and should ask his company for a company card right now - most companies would give him one to cover extended travel like this.

Honestly it’s the only way. That’s what works for me, I stick everything I spend on the CC for work. it’s my personal card, but I only put work stuff on it, as it’s set to clear automatically.

im not a high earner, and my boss likes to get as much travel to see his mates abroad, so tries to rope me in… it’s exhausting travelling for a couple of days so I’ve declined the latest jaunt as I’ve done 2 trips already this month

I’m upgraded to bronze now so every cloud and all that… but I know what you’re worrying about. Use the card and the payment period and you/your h won’t feel it in your pocket.

I would get him to ask for a company credit card OP - there's still time for them to sort it out for him if they have them.

It is a pain when you have to change your hours for the school drop offs and pick ups, my DH used to travel a lot and I was a SAHM so we didn't have that issue at least. Sound like he might have to pay for food and drinks while he is away, which would work out more expensive than a weekly shop for WFH so I can see why you'd be thinking about that. Hopefully they'll refund his expenses in his salary payment after the trip.

My DH has to travel for work, usually gets about a months notice so that doesn't seem short notice to me. He has a company credit card for expenses. He did tell them to F off when they asked on a Thursday if he could fly out on the Monday as that was too short notice but that hasn't happened again.
I will admit this is part of the reason I work part time, as I can move hours around to cover childcare drop off/pick up which makes it easier.

This is a totally normal approach - anywhere I have worked. If you get a company credit card - in my experience you are still personally liable for that too but you will not get the points associated with the spending. You'll actually save money because he will have all his meals paid for.